Tone-modifying attachment for phonographs



Dec. 3, 1929. w. v. DOUGHERTY 1,737,788

. TONE MODIFYING ATTACHMENT FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Sept. 1, 1928 Clbbozwaq Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILBER V. DOUGHERTY, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO W. W.

HARWELL, OF CHUNCHULA, ALABAMA TONE-MODIFYING ATTACHMENT FOR PI-IONOGRAPHS Application filed September 1, 1928.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel and comparatively simple mechanism for improving the quality and increasing the volume of the tone of phonographs or of performing a like function for radio apparatus when the phonograph tone arm is used as a loud speaker; and to provide novel means for supporting the device in operative position.

I attain these and other objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my ap paratus applied to a phonograph, the latter being shown partly in cross section;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through my device; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Like numerals indicate like parts in each of the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I provide a cylinder 1, preferably having a bell-shaped mouth 2, the cylinder being closed at the other end as by an end cap 3 suitably reinformed as by the cap 4.

I also provide a flat outwardly tapering arm 5 centrally positioned and having a notch 6 at its outer end and a relatively heavy lid 7 aflixed to the inner end of the arm 5 within the cylinder 1, as shown in Fig. 2. The arm 5 is suitably secured in place, as by sealing wax 18 or other like suitable fastening means.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a phonograph cabinet 8 having a lid or cover 12, a tone arm 9, and reproducer 10. The arm 5 of my tone device has its notched portion 6 resting on the vibrator which extends to the center of the reproducer.

I provide suitable means for supporting the cylinder 1 in a desired approximately upright position. My preferred means consist of a clamp 15 adjustably secured to the phonograph lid and to which in turn is attached the end 14 of the rod 13. A suitable cord or elastic 16 is fastened at 17 to the rod 13 and extended around the cylinder 1 and then suitably fastened to the thumbscrew 19 of the clamp 15, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Serial No. 303,578.

The flat arm 5 is thickest at the inner end and gradually tapers to the thin edge at the lower end. The small lid 4L functions as a bracing means for holding the device on the arm 5, and also affects the tone to some extent. I may use different metals or fiber for this element and the material used also affects the tone to some extent, preferably the same materials being used as that of which the cylinder or horn 1 is made. I may use any suitable means for fastening the, reinforcing lid 4 on the arm 5 and on the cylinder 1, such as small bolts or rivets (not shown), or a soldering material such as wax or solder 18, or both. I use wax or a like substance 18 for securing the lid 4 on the cylinder or horn 1 regardless of whether bolts or rivets are used. The lid-shaped device 7 on the inner end of arm 5 functions both to mellow the tone and also to increase the volume of sound, and is fastened on the arm 5 in any suitable manner, such as by a tack or brad as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

My invention is held in place on the vibrator arm of the phonograph reproducer by gravity as the reproducer travels across the record. The resilient or flexible means of supporting the cylinder, namely the cord or elastic 16, and the rod 17 allows for this mode of operation. The rod 13 is longer than 0 is usually necessary to permit of convenient application of the device to different sizes and types of phonographs.

It is, however, within the contemplation of my invention to provide any suitable fieX- ible means for holding the cylinder in a substantially upright position with the notched end of arm 5 resting on the vibrator arm of the reproducer, the preferred form being illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The clamp 15 is secured to the phonograph cover or lid by the thumb screw 19 which makes it more convenient to attach the device.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. A tone modifying device for phonographs consisting of a cylinder open at one end and closed at the other end, a thin arm extending through the central portion of the closed end of the cylinder, the arm being thickest at its inner end and tapering to a thin edge at its upper end, and a lid of substantially smaller diameter than the cylinder aifixed to the inner end of the arm and facing toward the open end of the cylinder.

2. In combination with the device described in claim 1, means adjustably attached to the phonograph lid for flexibly supporting the cylinder in an approximately upright position with the lower end of the arm resting on the vibrator arm of the phonograph reproducer.

3. In a tone modifying attachment for phonographs, the combination of a cylinder open at one end and closed at the other end, a thin arm extending through the central portion of the closed end of the cylinder, means for firmly holding said arm in the desired position, a relatively heavy lid aflixed to the inner end of the aforesaid arm, the outer end of the arm being notched to seat on the vibrator arm of the phonograph reproducer, and flexible means for supporting the device in the desired positionwith the notched end of the arm held in engagement with the vibrator arm of the reproducer by gravity.

WILBER V. DOUGHERTY. 

